Halani Aulika was among the first London Irish players to return for pre-season training today – and no-one was more eager to get back into action.

The Tonga tight-head prop missed all but the first three games of last season after rupturing an Achilles tendon in a 29-23 home defeat by Exeter Chiefs last September.

And he admits: "It was hard, especially when I had to watch games. I cannot sit still.

"I keep moving around because I want to be out there."

Aulika was still kept busy off the field, though, when he was not focused on eight months of rehab.

He was named Exiles' community player of the year for his work in the hospitals and HITZ programme for youngsters, while he also became a father with the arrival of his son Mayson.

But, having finished the previous campaign as the club's top scorer with 11 tries, Aulika insists the new season cannot come around fast enough.

He has discarded the protective boot he was wearing up until last month and has been cleared to join in full training with the majority of the senior squad who reported back for the first day of their pre-season programme.

Aulika is hoping it won't take him too long to get up to speed.

He said: "I only played the first three games of last season when the new scrum rules were coming in.

"It was different from the previous season. There were new techniques to take on board and everyone was trying to get used to the new call.

"By halfway through the season everyone had their own idea about what to do to make the scrum work.

"Hopefully I have picked up a lot watching, even though I haven't been playing."

The 30-year-old was only too pleased to sign a new three-year deal with Irish in January.

He said: "It was an easy decision.

"My wife Mel also likes the club and loves it here in London. She does not want to go anywhere else."

Aulika loves the family atmosphere that London Irish promotes.

And at the end of last season he and his compatriots Leo Halavatau and Chris Hala'ufia cooked a Tonga-style meal for their team-mates at the back of one of the training pitches.

He said: "In Tonga we have no electric or gas ovens. We dig a hole, start a fire in there, then we put rocks on top.

"When the rock is really hot and the fire has gone down, we put the food on top of the rock - a whole lamb, a whole pig, sweet potatoes.

"But it is not about the food - it is more about the culture, bringing the boys together. Like your barbecues in this country when the family comes together."

Aulika represented Tonga at the last World Cup and has now set his sights on playing for them when the tournament comes around again in 2015.

He said: "That is my main target. I am still in contact with Tonga.

"They have their official physio coming to look at me to see how I am.

"I was supposed to go for the Pacific Cup (this summer), but I wanted to save myself for the new season."